Electro-therapeutic belt



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

H. W. MATTHEWS. ELECTRO THERAPEUTIG BELT.

No. 459,144. Patented Sept. 8,1891.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets*Sheet 2. H. W. MATTHEWS.

ELECTRO TEEEAPEUTIG BELT.

No. 459,144. Patented Sept. 8, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

HUGH L MATHI'IEVS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRO-THERAPEUTIC BELT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,144, datedSeptember 8, 1891.

Application filed .Tune 26,1891.

T0 all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH V. MATTHEWS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electro-TherapeuticAppliances, whichare fully set forth in the follow- -ing specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof,and in which Figure l shows my electro-therapeutic belt 1n perspectiveprovided with my special devices. Fig. 2 shows one of my improvedaluminium electrodes in side elevation. Fig. 3 shows the same from thetop. Fig. 4 shows a metal socket (L in section. Fig. 5 shows one of myinsulators in side elevation. Fig. G shows Fig. 5 in plan view. Fig. 7shows my battery in perspective. Fig. 8 shows a modification of my saiddevice. Fig. 0 shows a vertical section of the electrode, Fig. 2.

Like letters refer to like parts.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction ofelectro-therapeutic body appliances; and my said invention consists inproviding` electrodes of non-corrosive and iieXible metal faced withsuitable absorbents of moisture, adapted by special mechanism to beremovably attached to a belt or truss; and it further consists inproviding suitable insulating devices for those places from which saidelectrodes have been removed; and it also and further consists in soconnecting` such electrodes in sets or pairs as to be adapted to operateon certain parts of the body, while at the same time intermediate partsof the body are relieved from the full force of the current, so as to beeitheronly mildly affected thereby or not at all; and in order to attainsaid desirable ends I construct my said improvements in substantiallythe following manner, namely:

I attach my said improved electrodes either to a belt or other pieceofapparatus by nroviding` a metallic ring or socket a, which is securelyattached to said belt or part, and it preferably consists in adaptingfor said purpose a Well-known device used for gloves, consisting of sucha socket-piece a, into which a removable spring-button d is attachable.To said button a' is attached. permanently a iieXible aluminium disk i),made so thin that Serial No. 397,609'. (No model.)

it may easily be bent by the .fingers into any desired form. The objectof making said disk of said quality of material is, first, that saiddisk. may not wear out and in wear become unsightly and also discolorandinjure fabrics coming in contact with it, and, second, that the saiddisk may be shaped by the patient to tit into any depression 0r over anyelevation on the body and retain its form in that place, and thus causea more gentle action on the part, because the electrode by thus iittingover the entire part acts with its whole surface instead of from apoint, as it must do when of stiff material, and has its convex sidetoward the body, a form in which all iniiexible electrodes must be used,because if used as fiat` disks their edges would be irritating when inahollow part of the body*as, for instance, under the arm-because thecurrent could then act only on the circumference of the disk, and, onthe other hand, if an electrode of convex form were applied to the angleof the shoulder, for instance, its action would be from a comparativelysmall part of its surface, or a point which would render it painful,besides reducing its effects to too small a surface. The said severaldisadvantages are all overcome by the use of such improved thin metallictiexible and non-corrosive disks, as shown in my construction.

On a suitable belt are attached as many sockets d as may be considerednecessary or desirable, which are all connected by a suitable conductork, and it with the battery or batteries yL' in the pockets i', as hereinshown. Said conductor 7n is for convenience, and its safety from injuryplaced between the several layers of the belt, and is here indicated inbroken lines connecting said several sockets d and battery or batteriesr.

Insulators M to insulate the sockets d when not holding an electrodeAare also provided, and form a highly necessary and useful part of myinvention.

Said insulators are made of an adjustable button a', adapted to beremovably inserted into said sockets d., to which is attached aninsulating-body, as apiece of rubber Z, and said i nsulating-body isfaced with softchamoisskin m or other suitable material to prevent itsirritating the skin. By means of this arrangement and construction ofthe parts the ICO.

said electrodes may be moved from place to place and the current keptfrom escaping at any of said sockets by placing in them said insulatorsM.

In Fig. S is shown a special device to show hour my invention may bearranged for special purposes. In this case apocketP is suspended from asocket c in the belt bya strap, in the upper end of which is abutton d',which enters said socket a, and to said button is at-V tached a lead 7ato sockets a in the pocket P, one of which is provided with my electrodeA, from Which and through the body to the electrode A in the oppositeend of the belt the circuit may be completed, instead of through ametallic conductor.

It is awell-known fact that the'metalplates b, which for-m theelectrodes in like appliances, soon become corroded and unsightlylannealed, so that it may retain the form it may be made'to assume to litany partot the body.

What I claim is 1. The combination, in an electric belt provided with abattery andy metallic sockets fixed in said belt and connected to saidbattery, of electrodes provided with spring-buttons adapted to bcreceived and removably held in said sockets, substantially as specilied.

2. The combination, in an electric belt pro vided with a battery andmetallic sockets in said belt connected by conductors, of exiblemetallic electrodes provided With spring-buttons adapted to be removablysecured in said sockets, substantially as specified.

3. The combination,.in an electric belt provided with a battery andmetallic sockets electrically connected in said belt, of metallicelectrodes and insulators adapted to be interchanged and removablyheldin said sockets, substantially as specified.

4. The combinatiomi-n an electricbeltprovided with a ybattery andmetallic sockets electrically connected in said belt, of'spongefacedAremovable electrodes, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, in an'electric belt provided with a battery andmetallic sockets electrically connected in said belt, of aluminiumelectrodes faced with sponge and removably held in said electrodes,substantially as specified.

HUGH lV. MATTIIENVS.

Witnesses:

WM. ZIMMERMAN, ANTON FOUGNER.

